To you, Biafra romantic By OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

From the communiqué’s chilly symbolism, of date and place of issue, it was clear: history was about repeating itself, but this time as grand farce.

On 15 January 1970, the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) formally ended, though actual fighting did on January 13.  In Port Harcourt, to this day, the vexed issue of Civil War Igbo “abandoned property” remains a sore point.  Yet, from the same Port Harcourt came, on 15 January 2012, the communiqué.

A nationwide Occupy Nigeria protest, over oil subsidy removal, had paralysed the country.   But from Annkio Briggs, a Niger Delta environmental activist who signed in as president, Agape Birthrights and convener, Niger Delta Occupy Niger Delta Resources (NDONDR), came the ringing declaration.

Diezani Alison-Madueke’s plea for mercy By Rotimi Fasan

By Rotimi Fasan
Finally, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s Petroleum Resources minister until six months ago, seeks to be understood by Nigerians. The former highflying minister, one of the most influential in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, seems to be begging Nigerians for forgiveness, or at least for some slack in their criticism (or is it hatred of her guts?). Of course, Madueke did not actually ask Nigerians to forgive her. Those are not her exact words, but the intention is quite clear in the series of conversations she has had in the last couple of weeks with celebrity journalist, Dele Momodu. She seems to have come to a belated realisation of thatAchebean warning to all misguided leaders that nobody wins a war against their own people.

Nigerians have in the last several months been treated to salacious tales of the former minister’s attempt to escape the law, even when there was no pending indictment against her or before her actual arrest in the United Kingdom. But the story out there was that she had been faking ill-health, specifically a life-threatening battle with cancer of the breast. This was after all attempts by her, the rumour mill had it, to have an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari were allegedly rebuffed by the then president-elect. Jonathan was hardly out of office before Madueke bade the government goodbye, leaving for the United Kingdom. She was suddenly away from the public gaze. For a woman who appeared to relish the

Senate Probes: Between Duty and Hysteria by Eniola Bello

ENI-B, Email: eniola.bello@thisdaylive.com. twitter @eniolaseni. Tel: 08055001956

Since Nigeria embarked on the present democratic experiment in 1999, the National Assembly has always been quick to resort to probes of government ministries, departments and agencies at the drop of a hat. Indeed, in the exercise of its oversight functions, the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to direct any of its standing committees to probe any institution or activity of government. The problem, however, is that more often than not, it is

President Buhari’s Speech at The Inauguration Ceremony of Ministers

President Muhammadu Buhari, Commander-In-Chief Federal Republic of Nigeria

Your Excellency, The Vice President;
Professor Yemi Osinbajo;
The Senate President, and the Hon. Speaker, House of Representatives;
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Justice Mahmoud Mohammed;
The National Chairman, All Progressive Congress, Chief John Oyegun;
National Leader of APC, Chief Bisi Akande;

Message to Obasanjo by Gbogun gboro

I make it a point of duty to be respectful of President Olusegun Obasanjo, whether I happen to mention his name in public or in private. I am sure that is part of my respect for my country. For me, it is not a small thing that a person has once been head of the country of my birth.

Jonathan’s fair-weather friends (I) by Mohammed Harunna

•Dr. Jonathan

DR Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has been expressing great anger at Chief Edwin Clark, his principal’s self-appointed godfather, over the godfather’s apparent denunciation of his godson recently. In a well publicised article last week, Abati said he couldn’t believe it when he first read remarks by Clark that Jonathan was a good man except that he seemed incapable of fighting corruption.
“I have,” he said in the opening sentence of his article, “tried delaying the writing of this piece in the honest expectation that someone probably misquoted Chief E.K. Clark, when he reportedly publicly disowned former President Goodluck Jonathan. I had hoped that our dear father, E.K. Clark, would issue a counter statement and say the usual things politicians say: “they quoted me out of context!” “Jonathan is my son”.

Here are the names of senate committee chairman and vice chairman as constituted by Saraki

SPECIAL COMMITTEES

·        COMMITTEE ON SELECTION

S/N

Committee

CHAIR

VICE

1.	Committee on Rules & Business	Babajide Omoworare	Ali Ndume
2.	Senate Services Committee	Ibrahim Gobir	Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi
3.	Committee on Ethics & Privileges	Samuel Anyanwu	Bala Ibn Na’allah
4.	Committee on Public Accounts	Andy Uba	Gbolahan Dada
5.	Committee on National Security & Intelligence	Shaaba Lafiagi	David Jonah Jang

The strangeness of democratic change By Tatalo Alamu

by  Tatalo Alamu
God bless Honore de Balzac, wherever he may be at this moment. The great French novelist lived the impossible contradictions of post-revolutionary France as if he was himself a character in a great novel. In order to chronicle for posterity the tormenting improbabilities of his beloved nation with as much fidelity and accuracy as possible, Balzac simply appointed himself a honorary secretary of the society. From this vantage observatory and ringside listening post, Balzac began churning out great historical novels.
But so consumed was the great man by this moveable feast of superior reality that at the end of his life, Balzac was no longer able to separate reality from fiction. On his death bed, Balzac was heard screaming for his favourite physician to come and attend to him. “ Call me Banchioc!! Only Banchioc can save me now!” But there was a minor problem. Banchioc indeed was not a life or living doctor. He was actually one of Balzac’s own greatest fictional creations.

Much Ado About Buhari’s Ministerial List By Jaafar Jaafar

By Jaafar Jaafar

Politically speaking, President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list is okay. Merit nko? Mba! Well, I always want to see a flavour of politics added to a political cocktail. That makes it sweeter.
Of course, I notice some imbalances, but there is counterbalancing in the list. I also notice reward for hardwork and dedication to a political cause, just as I smell a tinge of nepotism.
I hate talking about religion in a political discourse. Sadly, religion and politics in Nigeria are like rim and tyre — they go together. But the best way to get a better understanding of the discourse is to talk about the stark reality. If religion is not relevant to Nigerian politics, perhaps the name, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, wouldn’t have been on the national spotlight.

Deconstructing Diezani: Why Alison-Madueke is the most powerful woman in the country by Wilfred Okiche

by Wilfred Okiche

                                              first published on 7 June 2014

There are a number of theories about why DAM remains untouchable by the GEJ administration, even in the face of countless compelling reasons for the former to step aside. Her closeness to the president is unrivalled, and there have been rumours of a familial or romantic connection.

From the moment she was appointed Nigeria’s first female Minister of Petroleum Resources, it was clear that Diezani Alison-Madueke was going to have a rough ride. The petroleum sector, an all boys club if ever there was one, for most of its history, has been the life blood of Nigeria’s economy. Contributing about 14.4% to the country’s total rebased GDP, and oiling its vicious political machinery, the sector is so critical and valuable that former president Olusegun Obasanjo acted as his own Petroleum Minister for 7 of the 8 years of his presidency, trusting no man (or woman) to head the ministry.

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, arrested in London - premiumtimesng.com

Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke

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Missing $20 bn: Sanusi faults Alison-Madueke, says audit report proves at least $18.5bn lostMay 14, 2015

Fuel Crisis: Oil workers accuse Nigerian govt. of blackmailMay 29, 2015

The immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was on Friday arrested in London, PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively and authoritatively report.

The former minister, who was one of the most powerful officials of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, was arrested Friday morning alongside four other people by the British law enforcement agency.

The identities of the four other people arrested along with her could be immediately ascertained.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt she was arrested for offences related to bribery and corruption being investigated by the UK National Crime Agency

Emir Sanusi: Raising dust in water By Jaafar Jaafar

 By Jaafar Jaafar

I have made this argument about a year ago when the rumor of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi’s marriage to a “minor” raised some dusts. The age of consent varies according to culture and religion, I had argued.

 I don’t know why one would combust energy criticizing cultural practices that are contrary to his religion, culture or warped intuition. Nigeria has two major religions which don’t prohibit marriage at the age of 18. The constitution doesn’t also prohibit it.

Writing about age of consent, Professors Richard Wortley and Stephen Smallbone said girls married very young in European society prior to19th century

Buhari’s baptism of fire revisited by Mohammed Adamu

by Mohammed Adamu

(08035892325 sms only) | dankande2@gmail.com

As I still struggle to come out of Sallah mood, I thought I should serve you a slightly rejigged version of Buhari’s baptism of fire, published sometime after Saraki’s emergence. Now that the ‘usurper’ Senate President stews in his own pot –or as the English would say ‘as he is being hoisted in his own petered’, I thought we should take a look again at Parliament and its many headaches. Enjoy.

“Soon after Gen. Buhari became President-Elect, I wrote four pieces almost in a sequence, viz: ‘BEFORE WE CRUCIFY BUHARI’; ‘BUHARI: BEWARE PARLIAMENT’; ‘BUHARI AND THE EIGHT PARLIAMENT’ and ‘THE JUDICIARY WAITING FOR BUHARI’. While appraising the different theoretical presumptions and practical realities about the democratic, the legislative and the judicial processes of government I tried variously to provide the basis –with the advent of Buhari- for caution against the expectation of quick democratic dividend. I also tried to warn that the Legislature, unless it is handled by sticks-and-carrots, could be a systemic drag rather than an incentive to our democracy

Nigeria at 55: full text of President Buhari’s speech

“October 1st is a day for joy and celebrations for us Nigerians, whatever the circumstances we find ourselves in because it is the day, 55 years ago; we liberated ourselves from the shackles of colonialism and began our long march to nationhood and to greatness.

“No temporary problems or passing challenges should stop us from honouring this day. Let us remind ourselves of the gifts God has given us. Our Creator has bequeathed to us Numbers – Nigeria is the ninth most populated country on the planet. We have in addition arable land; water; forests; oil and gas; coastline; and solid minerals

Why Everybody Is Calling On Buhari By Comrade Timi Frank

 By Comrade Timi Frank

The Presidency on Sunday stated that the ongoing trial of the president of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, is purely a judicial and constitutional issue. Senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement, had described the attempt to link the Presidency to Saraki’s trial as unacceptable. The statement also frowned at views to the effect that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) could only act upon external instigation. Well said. Nobody can tell Buhari to stop the trial of the Senate president by the CCT. However, I don’t think calls on Mr President to ensure that concerned institutions of state follow due process in carrying out their duties are tantamount to calling on him to outrightly stop the trial. Nobody can do that. To stop a perceived criminal trial by fiat would be totally unconstitutional

When It Rains It Pours By Hannatu Musawa

Hannatu Musawa

There have only been a few other instances when the term ‘when it rains it pours’ has had such a literal application. Within the last week, the cloudburst of torrential rain not only poured to its heart’s desire, it also caused the devastation of lives in many states all over Nigeria. The nous of the saying is that sometimes in life, when one thing goes wrong, many others follow. That was true for the thousands of people caught up in the disaster. People lost family, livelihood and homes.
Following the tragic loss of human life and extensive destruction of property and infrastructure, those affected are still experiencing the effects of the storm, as homeless survivors are forced to live on contaminated, disease-infested waters.
Information is that in order to avert dehydration and quench thirst most of the survivors continue to drink the polluted water, thus exposing themselves to malaria and other diseases from the swarms of mosquitoes and viruses breeding in the flood waters

HOPE FOR A NEW FUTURE

I’ve been hearing words as strong as hate

Even before I turned eight

Yet we behave as if we are saints

We have no hope for change

We move up and down as if we own the world

Speaking fire not minding the effect of our words

Not minding what will become the lots of our wards

Throwing legacy into the wind as long as we feel safe within our walls

If today should be your last day

If asked how well you have done, what will you say?

Do we all forget the day of old,

Because of what we have been told?

Jumping up and down like a toad

Feeling safe because we are in the boat

And forgetting there may be storm untold

Nobody has ever become anything by his own power

Stop the plan to set everywhere on fire

There is little that can be done by godfather

Always remember we all have our desire

The future is bright this I know

It doesn’t matter for how long it snow

A time is coming for us to reap what we have sown

Written By: FADARE O. ENOCH

As the Senate Resumes: Expectations and Fears By Chima Chime

By Chima Chime

After the long wait, the resumption of the National Assembly – after the lawmaker’s annual vacation – has finally arrived. As plenary is about to begin, Chima Chime, writes to examine some of the issues that Nigerians can expect to see coming from the upper legislative chamber.

EXPECTATIONS

E-PARLIAMENT: Before the 8th Senate went on recess the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki challenged the Senate Committee on Rules and Business to evolve an e-parliament system, which is set to foster transparency in the affairs of the Senate. It is expected that the implementation of this new system will commence immediately plenary begins, as Nigerians are patiently waiting to witness this new effort at promoting transparency in the affairs of the Senate for the first time in Nigeria’s legislative history

The Colours of Change by Akanni Ola Balogun

It is yet to be seen if the ruling government and the party intend to come out stronger from the trial of Senator Bukola Saraki
Olawale Olaleye


“Because of the inordinate ambition of one man and lust to be the Senate President by all means, Saraki ignored the President, the Vice-President, APC governors, Senators, House of Reps members etc to sacrifice the unity of his party. Senator Saraki compounded the problems of APC, and mounted a major road block for its smooth take-off considering that it is just coming to power after 16 years in opposition.
“This man put spanners in the works and initiated a serious internal crisis within the ruling party that nearly made Nigerians who massively voted for APC to begin to lose hope. Saraki and his gang of 40 thieves devastated the master plan of our great party to choose the right people to serve as the Principal Officers in the National Assembly.”
Those were some of the words of the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the gaseous Joe Igbokwe. His clearly unguarded but instigated position has further compounded fears if this whole drama of trial is all about the fight against graft or sheer power game.

The choice of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki as the scapegoat of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft crusade may have been circumstantial as it is made to appear; it is however curious – from all indications. Although President Buhari may have been inconsistent with the modus operandi to the extent of his inaugural speech, it appears evident that the trial is more political than a genuine resolve to unravel any wrongdoing and establish justice.

If not for Saraki’s patriotic magnanimity… by YOMI ODUNUGA

Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Kwara State-born politician and, by all sense of the word, a true inheritor of his late father’s exploits in the political terrain, takes his vocation more seriously than many would have imagined. The former banker, two-time governor and aide to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo recently plotted a coup that saw him perching at the prestigious seat of Nigeria’s President of the Senate, even to the consternation of the leadership of his party, the All Progressives Congress. Some say he is perching precariously on the tip of a dangling rope. That is neither here or there. With the benefits of hindsight, I have no shred of doubt that Saraki must have exploited all the wily tricks in and out of the books to – with cold calmness – manoeuvre his way to the seat. Some say the feat was achieved through a combination of treachery and stone-cold ambition. I beg to disagree. I see his emergence strictly from the prism of what his supporters call Saraki’s patriotic magnanimity